How Do I Apply to Graduate?
Overview
To graduate, you must file your graduation application by the application deadline. If you are planning on conferring more than one degree — for example, an undergraduate and graduate degree, a PhD and master's degree — a separate application to graduate must be submitted for each degree.
You are required to have an active registration status by either being enrolled in courses for the quarter in which you’re applying for graduation or on an approved special registration status.
If you apply to graduate and then later withdraw that application, you will be unable to re-apply for graduation in Axess for the same quarter on your own. You must submit a help request if you need to re-apply in the same quarter.
For undergraduates, the application to graduate is only available if you have completed at least 155 units (which does not include ungraded classes).
For deadlines, refer to the Stanford Academic Calendar.
Review Your Record for Accuracy
Check your degree information in Axess carefully before you apply or you may not graduate. Double-check the following on your unofficial transcript:
- Is your degree listed correctly? For example, Stanford offers the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), the Bachelor of Science (B.S.), and the Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.S.) at the undergraduate level. Please ensure that you're listed to receive the degree you expect.
- Is your major listed correctly? Are your multiple or secondary majors listed correctly?
- Is your field of study (subplan) listed correctly?
- Is your minor listed correctly? Minors appear on your unofficial transcript. They will not appear on the application to graduate.
- Will you graduate with departmental or interdisciplinary honors? If you anticipate graduating with honors in your program, please ensure this is reflected on your record before applying to graduate (e.g. B.A.H. in English). Interdisciplinary honors programs are separate from your degree/departmental honors.
Check Your Enrollment Status
You are required to have an active status in order to apply to graduate and must either be enrolled in courses for the quarter (for Summer, this can mean enrolling in a single class) or on an approved special registration status.
Submit Your Application to Graduate
| Quarter Student Applying to Graduate | Application to Graduate Available in Axess | Application to Graduate Deadline | Late Application to Graduate Deadline ($50 fee) |
| Autumn 2023-24 | August 30 | November 17 (5:00 p.m.) | December 8 (5:00 p.m.) |
| Winter 2023-24 | November 29 | March 1 (5:00 p.m.) | March 15 (5:00 p.m.) |
| Spring 2023-24 | March 6 | April 12 (5:00 p.m.) | June 7 (5:00 p.m.) |
| Summer 2023-24 | June 8 | August 2 (5:00 p.m.) | August 30 (5:00 p.m.) |
Submit your application in Axess:
Under My Academics, select Apply to Graduate.
Late Applications to Graduate
You may submit your application to graduate in Axess after the regular application to graduate deadline has passed, and up until the late application to graduate deadline for the quarter (listed above). Late applications to graduate incur a $50 non-refundable late fee, and must be submitted by the late application to graduate deadline (listed above). For deadlines, refer to the Stanford Academic Calendar.
Withdrawing an Application
If you are unable to successfully complete your degree you applied to confer, or if you wish to confer your degree at a later time, you may formally withdraw your application to graduate in Axess up until the Late Application to Graduate deadline. (See above chart.) There is no fee associated with withdrawing an application to graduate, and a withdrawal of an application to graduate is neither noted on a student transcript nor considered an academic demerit.
If, after the Late Application to Graduate deadline has passed, you find you need to withdraw your application to graduate, you must submit an Emergency Request to Withdrawn an Application to Graduate ticket (Please note, this ticket will not be accepted prior to the LAG deadline) The Office of the University Registrar will review and approve or deny requests as appropriate. Tickets must be received prior to the submission of Final Recommending Lists by academic departments (see the Academic Calendar for dates).
Note that any withdrawal of a graduation application will move your expected graduation term ahead to the following quarter, and you will be unable to re-apply for graduation in the same quarter via Axess. If you have withdrawn in error and need to re-instate an application you have already filed, please submit a help request.
Checking on Your Application
The Registrar’s Office reviews degree requirements for degree candidates (i.e., those students who have applied to confer a degree) throughout the quarter once your application has been submitted via Axess.
While the Registrar's Office makes every effort throughout the quarter to notify you in a timely manner when you are not meeting (or are not projected to meet) degree requirements via your Stanford email, you should periodically touch base with your program/academic advisor(s) to discuss any missing items or concerns you may have.
The official notification from the Registrar's Office, which confirms whether your degree has been awarded or not, is sent via email to your Stanford email addresses the day of the official conferral of degrees. (Refer to the Stanford Academic Calendar for the quarterly conferral dates.) The Registrar's Office does not provide degree approval/conferral letters outside of this notification.
For questions regarding the application to graduate, submit a help request.